Spice wheel



Dec. 2, 19 47. sp -rfs r 2,431,837

SPICE WHEEL Filed March 12, 1946 mmirom #422) A J'Aarns BY MMMNJ. Jmrrs Patented Dec. 2, 1947 ,431,837 R Q WHEEL s, it smite rri eeii e have .1 1946; Serial N 6 9 wants- -1. .21 4

This invention relates to a spice wheel ora device on Which a plurality of, spice containers con.- taining difierent' spices may be, mounted so that th y may b rotated on the support that supports them to facilitate selection and removal ofthe container, containing a desired spice.

object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical and durable device adapted to be mounted on'tl' ie unueisiueors' cupboard shelf or the like. and which has a rotatable support on which the spice containers are "adapted to be mounted and to provide means for" retaining the spice containers on the support as it revolves but which permits of the extraction and removal of a selected spice container. With the foregoing and other objects in view, w l w l b f i ld man sst i he win ct'a l i d r ti n and spe i cally p ed ut-i the ended clai e e en h o. the. accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a cupboard shelf illustrating the spice wheel embodying the present invention as having been mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a diametrical section through the spice wheel; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 33 upon Fig. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved spice wheel consists of a top lll which may be formed of sheet metal or other suitable material and which has formed therein apertures ll adapted to receive screws ['2 or other fastening devices by which it may be attached to the underside of a support such as a cupboard shelf S. The central portion of the top II] is depressed as indicated at [3 and a bolt [4 extends downwardly therethrough and through a central depressed portion of a bottom or support Hi. The bottom or support is of substantially the same diameter as the top Ill and has secured thereto a cylindrical hub H. The hub I! may be attached to the bottom or support H5 in any suitable manner such as by brackets 18 that may be spot-weldcd or otherwise permanently attached to the hub and to the bottom. Near the top of the hub there is preferably a spider L) which braces the upper portion of the hub and through which the bolt l4 extends. By means of this construction although the top III is rigidly and permanently fastened to the shelf S the bottom I6 and the hub I! are freel y rotatable relatively thereto. The top and botom have. opposedflane s. the flange of t e top bein ind cated at 2B an e fl n a th n t m be ng indi at d at These fla s a spaced from the hub H a distance slightly in exces of the hickne s o a c n nal spice can or like containers. The top and bottom flanges 2:9; and 21 are spaced from each other a distance lightly less than the height of a conventional spice can or. like container. At one side of the flange. 20 there is formed a cut-out 22 which in width is slightly greater than the width of a con: ventional spice can. The top of this cutroutis so spaced from the flange 2| as to' permit of a single spice can to be tipped outwardly therethrlou gh'in removing it from the'spice wheel.

By means of the above described construction it will be appreciated that a plurality of spice cans iir'like contain'ers may beinserted between tli'top and bottom by tipping them consecutively through the cut-out 22. These cans may be arranged in side by side relationship around the hub 11 and are supported on the bottom [6. When it is desired to select a particular spice the bottom It may be manually rotated to carry the various spice cans consecutively across the obverse side of the wheel. During the rotation even though the spice cans may be subjected to centrifugal force tending to throw them outwardly they are eifectively retained on the bottom l6 by the flanges 2B and 2| which, as above noted, are spaced from each other a distance less than the height of the can. When the desired spice has been located on the support its container is arranged opposite the opening 22 and it can be withdrawn through this opening by tilting it outwardly. It may be restored to the wheel by inserting it through the opening in a reverse manner.

It will be appreciated that the above described construction enables a large number of different spices to be conveniently kept in a cupboard but in such a manner that On mere rotation of the bottom the various containers may be consecutively brought to view for purposes of selection.

While the invention has been primarily designed for mounting and storing spice containers it is equally applicable to other articles, a plurality of difierent kinds of which are to be conveniently stored in such a manner that they may be readily selected.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

3 We claim:

- 1. A device of the class described comprising an annular lower support, a top to which the lower support is rotatably secured, said support and top having opposed flanges cooperating to retain containers of spices or the like adapted to be placed on the support as the support rotates relative to the top, and a cut-out in the flange of the top permitting a selected one of the containers to be tipped therethrough in removing it from the support after having been carried by the support into registration therewith.

2. A device of the class described comprising a top adapted to be secured to the underside of a shelf or the like, a support suspended for rotation from the top, a hub secured to the support and rotatable therewith, said top and support having opposed marginal flanges spaced from the hub a distance slightly in excess of the width of a spice can or the like, and spaced from each other a distance slightly smaller than the height of a spice can and adapted to confine spice cans on the support as the support rotates, and a cutout in the flange of the top through which a spice can may be tipped in removing it from the support,

3. A device of the class described comprising a top adapted to be secured to the underside of a shelf or the like, a support suspended for rotation from the top, a hub secured to the support and rotatable therewith, said top and support having opposed marginal flanges spaced from the hub a distance slightly in excess of the width of a spice can or the like and spaced from each other a distance slightly smaller than the height of a spice can and adapted to confine spice cans on the support as the support rotates, and a cut-out in one of the flanges through which the spice can may be tipped in removing it from the support.

4. A device of the class described comprising a circular top adapted to be secured to the underside of a shelf or the like, a circular support suspended at its center from the top and rotatable relative thereto, a hub secured to the support, a spider adjacent the top of the hub, said hub and spider being rotatable With the support, said top and support having opposed marginal flanges spaced outwardly from the hub, and a cut-out in the flange on the top enabling a container adapted to be supported on the support to be tipped therethrough.

5. A device of the class described comprising a top adapted to be secured to the under side of a shelf or the like, a continuous annular support rotatably suspended from the top on which a plurality of spice cans or the like are adapted to be supported, the top and support having opposed annular flanges adapted to mutually cooperate to retain the cans on the support as the support is rotated, and a cut-out in the flange on the top with which any selected can on the support may be brought into registration as the support is rotated and through Which the selected can may be tipped in withdrawing it from the support.

HARRY F. SPOTTS. MARIAN J. SPOTTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 301,497 Hoard July 8, 1884 1,613 529 Payne Jan. 4, 1927 1,878,302 Tourtois Sept, 20, 1932 1,698,489 Bickford Jan. 8, 1929 1,759,140 Silberger May 20, 1930 

